Saint Meletios of Antioch Greek Orthodox Icon
High quality byzantine Orthodox handmade icons. Made in Greece and constructed in the traditional Orthodox manner.
Iconographer: Holy Monastery of St. Meletios
Commemorates on: February 12
This holy Father, who was from Melitene of Armenia, was a blameless man, just,
reverent, sincere, and most gentle. Consecrated Bishop of Sebastia in 357, he
was later banished from his throne and departed for Beroea of Syria (this is
the present-day Aleppo). After the Arian bishop of Antioch had been deposed,
the Orthodox and the Arians each strove to have a man of like mind with
themselves become the next Bishop of Antioch. Meletius was highly esteemed by
all, and since the Arians believed him to share their own opinion, they had him
raised to the throne of Antioch. As soon as he had taken the helm of the Church
of Antioch, however, he began preaching the Sons consubstantiality with the
Father. At this, the archdeacon, an Arian, put his hand over the bishop’s
mouth; Meletius then extended three fingers towards the people, closed them,
and extended one only, showing by signs the equality and unity of the Trinity.
The embarrassed archdeacon then seized his hand, but released his mouth, and
Meletius spoke out even more forcibly in defense of the Council of Nicaea.
Shortly after, he was banished by the Arian Emperor Constantius, son of Saint
Constantine the Great. After the passage of time, he was recalled to his
throne, but was banished again the third time by Valens. It was Saint Meletius
who ordained Saint John Chrysostom reader and deacon in Antioch. He lived until
the Second Ecumenical Council in 381 (which was convoked against Mace-donius,
Patriarch of Constantinople, the enemy of the Holy Spirit), over which he
presided, being held in great honour as a zealot of the Faith and a venerable
elder hierarch.
The icon reproductions are created by iconographer monks of various Greek Orthodox monasteries in Greece and all images are approved replications by the Greek Orthodox Church. As icons are considered to be the Gospel in image, these images are accurate and true Orthodox renderings, not second-hand interpretations. The icon images are mounted on solid wood and protected from tarnish with a varnish finish that seals in colors and creates a shiny luster.
Icons ship direct to you from Greece. Please allow 10-20 days for delivery.